Pure heart

Psalms 51 was the Psalm that David wrote after Nathan the prophet had come to him and confronted him about his adultery with Bathsheba and had Uriah killed in battle. What a great Psalm and what a merciful God we have! I want to challenge you to not just read but study the whole chapter and then apply it to your life.
The verse that really sticks out to me as I study this chapter is verse 10; “Create in me a pure heart, oh God, and renew a right spirit within me.” Did you see that? He doesn’t say anything about how the Devil made me do it. He doesn’t blame his circumstances. It’s not the environment he was raised in. He didn’t ask God to change anyone else, he asked God to change him!
You ever tried to make someone change? It doesn’t work t0o well does it? I’ve been trying to get Naomi to squeeze the toothpaste tube from the bottom and turn off lights for over 33 years now and it hasn’t happened yet! I’ve even shown her the benefits of lower electricity bills and read to her on the toothpaste tube where it says “For best results, start at the bottom and work up,” but she doesn’t care! So I have to give in and realize the only one I can change is me! Not my co-worker, not the other drivers on the road and for sure not my wife! Just me. Only me. And only through the help of my Lord Jesus Christ can “I can do all things.”
We don’t have to let others rob us of our joy. We don’t have to get frustrated with others when they irritate us. We are the only ones that can ruin our day. Our day won’t be ruined unless we allow it to be no matter what others do to us.
But we can’t do it in our own strength! We need to be empowered by the Holy Spirit of God and be plugged into Him. That’s the only way to overcome our flesh. That’s the only way to have a new heart created in us.
Read Psalms 51. It’s a great read!
God Bless Your Day, and please pray for me and I’ll pray for you!

~ Pastor Steve~

Make Him first in your life

Luke 12:35-40 Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose Master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, He will dress himself to serve, will make them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. It will be good for those servants whose Master finds them ready, even if He comes in the middle of the night or towards daybreak. But understand this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him.’

I sure do love this quote by C. H. Spurgeon: “It is a very blessed thing to be on the watch for Christ, it is a blessing to us now. How it detaches you from the world! You can be poor without murmuring; you can be rich without worldliness. . . . Untold blessings are wrapped up in the glorious hope.”
Are you on watch for the return of our Lord Jesus? Is your life shining before men that they can see your good works and glorify you Father in Heaven? Will you recognize His voice when He calls? Make Him first in your life and you will be ready!
You pray for me and I’ll pray for you. Let us know how we can serve you.

~Pastor Steve~

“Lady Liberty” by Brad McClain

That day I was horseback,
Just like days before,
But something was different,
My soul feeling sore.

Looked over my shoulder,
And what did I see,
At a full gallop,
Came Lady Liberty.

Her horse was all lathered,
He’d had a hard run,
When she overtook me,
Looked like he was done.

Her robes were all tattered,
Her face drawn and tight,
Her sword was all bloody,
She was quite a sight.

Said, “I’ve had a battle,
I’m weary and worn,
From defending freedom,
Our nation’s been torn,

By those who don’t answer,
To the Creator who gave,
The freedoms we cherish,
And men died to save.”

I held the bridle,
Of the horse that she rode,
Prayed as I sat there,
My shock clearly showed.

“Why did you stop me?”
I asked quietly,
She stared in my eyes,
She saw right through me.

“Where have you been,
When I rang the bell,
Were you too busy,
When your freedoms fell?”

I wept when I heard it,
Didn’t know what to say,
I said, “I am so sorry,
What can I do today?”

“Wake up from your slumber,
And ask God above,
To move by His Spirit,
On the land that you love.”

“Be a bold witness,
For the Savior who’s true,
And don’t be afraid,
Of those who hate you.”

“Pay more attention,
To all those who lead,
And become the answer,
For all those in need.”

“Vote for the reasons,
That we all hold dear,
And work for the right things,”
She made it real clear.

I made a promise,
As she rode away,
That I would do my best,
With what she said that day.

For freedom is sacred,
Cannot be ignored,
And if we aren’t careful,
It will slip from our shores.

Wake up and do something,
We better not wait,
Take our stand for freedom,
Before it’s too late.

“I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority…” (1 Tim. 2:1-2)